DEAR BILL,

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP68-00069A000100120041-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 28, 1998
• Sequence Number: 41
• Publication Date: August 29, 1960
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2000/08/25 : CIA-RDP68-00069A000100120041-0
29A
Afee
tat Coordinator for
cations
tate
Weshington 25, D.C.
Dear BM.
The Committee on Trocurernent of Foreign PubUcatIon of the United
Intelligence Board (PROCIB) has for several months indicated increasing
over the failure of the Publications Procurement Program to secure
sdequ&te publication, coverage from Latin America. The extremely volatile
nature of the situation in many countries of that area; the recent and forth-
coming elections in several of the countries, all of which hsve a bearing on
hemispheric relations and security; the stepped-up Soviet and Chinese Com
unlit drives to penetrate and subvert, and to gain domination of the peoples
and economies of many Latin American countries, all eerve to highlight the
importance of acquiring publications. In this connection, the difficulties en-
countered by the three National Libreria* and other strong Latin American
collections in this country are of concern to us, since we must draw upon the
total available resources in meeting the information needs of the Intelligence
Community.
Soca-use it was ed to have a firsthand 1mpreion of the scope of
books and periodicals available throughout Latin America, a survey team visited
nine countries in the area in early 1960. They found and brought back with them
several hundred publications of interest to the Intelligence Commtmity, and their
report on the availability of publications in Latin America hae been made avail-
able to all PROM members. In their report, these officers stress the unique
Approved For Release 2000/08/25 : CIA-RDP68-00069A000100120041-0
Approved For Release 2000/08/25 : CIA-RDP68-00069A000100120041-0
tuition in the Latin American booktrade, a
r the service to customers which charecte
tores. Latin American booksellers tend to
a in that area do not
erican and European
d orders for books
or give extremely slow service, With very few exceptions, neither book-
sellers not publishers produce lists of available publicetions from which
adequate selection can be made. Such lists as are produced are spasmodic
and usually die after a few issues. Very few Latin American countries produce
national bibliographies, and where such do exist, they are several years in
arrears. The amorphous state of book distribution in Certia,11 Laths American
25X1A5a1 countries Ms been confirmed by an entirely separate repor
25X1A5a
, PROMS has c
ocurement job can be uttsfactor
cations Officer in Latin Amer
uch an otftcer would be in a position to know the but bookstores
In the various countries and would be able to visit them periodically, for only
by personal COfiteetill and personal acquisitions can adequate procurement be
accomplished. He must be in s position to cover the many important Comnnmist
and other left-wing outlets in the area. This view is reinforced by the experience
of the Library of Congress and several major university libraries. A Regional
Publications Procurement Officer must be able to advise cat and coordinate the
activities of the Ad Hoc Publications Procurement Officers in all of the Embassies
throughout the area, He should have had intelligence experience, and should
be widely at.:quainted throughout the Intelligence Conumutity. He should have
close to native fluency in Spanish.
At its meeting on 23 August 1960, PROCUI formally concluded that the
needs of the Intelligence Community could no longer be adevately served in the
field of Latin American Publications unless and until a full time Regional Publica-
dons Procurement Officer was appointed for the area, and they have endorsed the
*ending of this memorandum to urge you to take aU possible steps within the
Department of State to establish such a position as soon as possible, and in no
event later than the beginning of Fiscal Year 1962. Adequate travel funds must
also be available, for periodic travel throughout the area is easential.
As you know, PlIOCIB membership consists of representatives of
Departmente and Agencies which comprise the United States Intelligence Boaxd.
Approved For Release 2000/08/25 : CIA-RDP68-00069A000100120041-0
Approved For Release 2000/08/25 :-CIA-RDP68-00069A000100120041-0
Lu addition, associate znemb.rohtp on PROC1B is held by the Department of
Agriculture, the Library of Congress. the Vatted States biformation Agency,
the National Science Foos/Sado% and the Natipnal Library of Medicine.
25X1A9a
ommittee on Pacurenient
of
Foreign Publications
Approved For Release 2000/08/25 : CIA-RDP68-00069A000100120041-0